Lonnie Wilkey/Baptist and Reflector

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (BP) -- Messengers to the Tennessee Baptist Convention increased their Cooperative Program giving to Southern Baptist Convention causes and amended their constitution and bylaws to require members of boards and committees to act in accordance with the Baptist Faith and Message.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (BP) -- When Eric Stitts, pastor of Bayside Baptist Church, heard of the domestic terrorism attack on two military facilities in Chattanooga, Tenn., July 16, his first thought was disbelief. Then he turned his attention and prayers to the many policemen in his church, located in nearby Harrison, who he knew would be called to the scene.

BELL BUCKLE, Tenn. (BP) -- The premise behind the Journey of Hope Ministry Center is simple. "There are as many hungry people in rural America as there are in urban America," said Doug Mitchell, pastor of Midland Baptist Church in Bell Buckle, Tenn., which operates the center. And, he said, people need to hear about Jesus.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- The pastor's heart in Kevin Ezell would not let him say no when the Nashville-area Long Hollow Baptist Church asked him to serve as interim pastor. The North American Mission Board president intentionally had not taken any interims after he joined NAMB's staff in September 2010 although he has filled the pulpit on occasion at First Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Ga., where he is a member.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) -- The Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes has received a gift of $1 million for its foster care program. Former NBA franchise owner George Shinn and his wife Denise, who now live in Franklin, presented the first installment of the gift to TBCH officials Jan. 15 during a special ceremony on the TBCH campus. The gift will be dispersed over the course of several years.

LEBANON, Tenn. -- An early morning fire on Wednesday (Sept. 3) destroyed the Baptist Collegiate Ministries building at Cumberland University.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (BP) -- An emphasis on 1-5-1 Harvest Plants brought perhaps the most culturally diverse group of messengers ever to the Tennessee Baptist Convention's annual meeting Nov. 12-13 at the Chattanooga Convention Center.